Kickoff: 6 PM CT
Location: Boone Pickens Stadium (Stillwater, Oklahoma)
Television: ESPN+
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Twitter: Follow @HeartlandPokes for live tweets during the game
The Oklahoma State Cowboys made history last weekend in several ways, and as bad as fans felt following the Tulsa loss in Week 1, the season is looking a lot more hopeful after the 39-31 victory over #6 Oregon in Week 2. The Cowboys get a lighter matchup this week as they host the Murray State Racers ahead of conference play, but there is still work to be done. This is the type of matchup that has plenty of downside, but the Cowboys need to stay focused on the task at hand, take care of business, and move on to the next week.
The Racers—an FCS school out of Tennessee—enter this matchup at 1-2 after defeating Valparaiso last week, tying their win total from each of the last two seasons. They run a balanced pass-run offense, splitting the playcalling right down the middle through their first three games, so the key for the Cowboys on the defensive side of the ball will be applying pressure up front in order to create chaos in the backfield.
On the offensive side, Oklahoma State looked in week 2 like many fans had hoped coming into the season. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker made a couple of mistakes, but overall, his playmaking skills were on full display both through the air and on the ground, and he had plenty of help from running back Caleb Hawkins and receiver Wyatt Young. Today’s focus should be to take care of the ball, move the ball efficiently down the field, and put it into the end zone as opposed to settling for field goals.
While it can be easy to overlook an FCS opponent, the Cowboys need to play the way that they can so that they can move closer to playing the way that they want to. The Week 1 loss to Tulsa is still close enough to sting, but the season is far from over, and who knows how far this team can really go?
How the Cowboys Win
It feels like the Cowboys could literally just show up for this one and walk away with a victory, but the bar should be much higher after defeating Oregon last week. Oklahoma State needs to be efficient on offense, with taking care of the ball as the key focus. Defensively, use the athleticism at each position to punish Murray State’s offense, but don’t be so overzealous that you give up big plays. A win is a must, but a solid win would offer some more confidence as the Cowboys move into Big 12 play next week.
How the Racers Win
Outside of a miracle, I just don’t see Murray State even making this one competitive. It would take a handful of unprovoked mistakes by the Cowboys alongside some spectacular coaching, playcalling, and execution by the Racers for that to be even close to possible.
Odds & Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Staff | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Caleb | Oklahoma State 59 – Murray State 10 |
| Craig | Oklahoma State 54 – Murray State 17 |
| Matt | Oklahoma State 58 – Murray State 3 |
| Zack | Oklahoma State 51 – Murray State 13 |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Improve the Cowboys to 33-0 against FCS/I-AA opponents since Division I split in 1978.
- Improve Eric Morris to 2-1 as Oklahoma State’s head coach.
- Improve Eric Morris to 2-0 at Boone Pickens Stadium as OSU’s head coach.
- Improve Eric Morris to 48-35 in his head coaching career.
- Improve Eric Morris to 15-13 in nonconference games.
- Improve Eric Morris to 1-0 against Murray State.
- Improve its all-time record against Murray State to 1-0.
- Mark OSU’s 136th win since the beginning of the 2010 season, ranking among the top 15 in the FBS.
- Make OSU 31-8 in its past 39 nonconference games and 53-14 in its past 67 nonconference games.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
Dating back to 2008, OSU is 83-14 when winning the turnover battle.
- Dating back to 2005, OSU is 50-7 when not committing a turnover.
- OSU has won 87 of its past 90 games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, OSU has won 95 of its past 99.
- OSU is 41-23 in its past 64 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 53-10 in its past 63 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- OSU has won five of its past seven overtime games.
- Drew Mestemaker has passed for at least 200 yards in 17-straight games – the longest active streak in the FBS. He’s passed for at least 250 yards in six of his past seven games.
- Mestemaker has thrown at least one touchdown in 16 of his past 17 games.
- Caleb Hawkins has scored multiple touchdowns in six of his past nine games. He’s scored at least three touchdowns in five of his past eight. Hawkins has rushed for at least 100 yards in five of his past eight games.
- Wyatt Young has had more than 100 receiving yards in six of his past 10 games.
- Israel Polk has at least one catch in each of his past 24 games played.
- Miles Coleman has at least one catch in each of his past 21 games played.
- Wyatt Young has at least one catch in each of his past 17 games played.
- Caleb Hawkins has at least one catch in each of his past 15 games played.
- Chris Barnes has at least one catch in each of his past 14 games played.
- Ethan Wesloski has made at least one tackle in 41 consecutive games, including every game he’s played since the beginning of the 2023 season. He’s had at least four tackles in 13 straight games.
- Jack Puckett has made at least one tackle in 34 of the 36 games of his career and at least three tackles in 30 games. He played at the Div. II level until 2026.
- Isaiah Chisom has made at least two tackles in 28 straight games.
- Quinton Hammonds has made at least two tackles in 13 straight games.
- Jaleel Johnson has made at least two tackles in 10 of his past 11 games.
- Christian Bodnar has made at least three tackles in seven of his past eight games.
- LaDainian Fields has started eight straight games for OSU, the longest streak of any player on the roster.